asked the Minister for Lands if repeated representations were received by the Land Commission, urging the acquisition and division of the lands of Mr. Harte, Aharney, Durrow, County Laoighis; and if he will state the reason for the refusal of the Land Commission to comply with the wishes of the local people.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - County Laoighis Lands.
Representations were made to the Land Commission in regard to the acquisition of the lands of Aharney which were held by Francis and James Harte. The Land Commission decided after investigation, to take no action in the matter.
Will the Minister state the reason why?
They were not suitable for the purpose.
asked the Minister for Lands if he will state whether the Land Commission have yet decided to acquire the lands of R.F. Bennett and Misses Roe on the Coote estate, County Laoighis (Record No. S/5503); and if he will state when these lands will be divided.
The Land Commission instituted proceedings for the resumption of 156 acres of the lands at Knockbrack on the Coote estate from the tenant, Robert F. Bennett. A petition by the tenant against resumption was allowed by the Land Commission on 5th December, 1944 and the proceedings accordingly terminated.
In the case of the Misses Roe, who are tenants of a holding in the townland of Rush Hall on the Coote estate, a notice of intention by the Land Commission to apply to the Appeal Tribunal for leave to resume portion of the holding has been published. A petition against resumption has been lodged by the tenants and is pending for hearing.
asked the Minister for Lands if he will state if and when the Land Commission decided to acquire the untenanted lands of Peter G. Alley, Knockaroo, Ballybrophy, County Laoighis, and if he will state the cause of the delay in dividing same; and, further, if he will now indicate when these lands will be divided.
I would refer the Deputy to the detailed reply given to his previous question of 12th December, 1943, on this matter, to which reply I have nothing to add at present, as there has been no change since in the position, owing to the emergency conditions prevailing.
Will the Minister say if it is a fact that preliminary steps were taken for the acquisition of this estate about 16 years ago, and will be further say whether the commissioners actually took a decision at any stage in the proceedings since that period to have these lands acquired? Do they intend to have these lands acquired and divided? I understand that the emergency conditions have been removed, and that the Land Commission has its coat off again.
The Land Commission is trying to function as well as possible under the present conditions which are still, more or less, emergency. I cannot give the Deputy a clearer statement than that.
Has the landowner concerned any authority to state locally that it is not the intention of the commissioners to acquire his lands?
I do not know what a man states locally. If the estate is suitable for the purposes of the Land Commission and comes within the category of land that may be acquired for the relief of congestion, then the owner would have no authority to make such a statement.
asked the Minister for Lands if he will state if he received in September, 1945, a communication from the secretary of the local land committee in Ballybrittas, County Laoighis, stating that the owner of the Trench estate was willing to dispose of 450 acres to the Land Commission for division amongst the most deserving persons in the district and indicating that his lease expires at the end of this year; and if he will now state what action he has taken or proposes to take in this case; and if the Land Commission have advised the owner or his agent that they do not propose to acquire this estate.
Representations have been received from the Ballybrittas Land Settlement Committee urging the acquisition by the Land Commission of 450 acres of arable land and also 270 acres of bog on the Trench estate. The representations have been noted for consideration as soon as circumstances permit.
The auctioneers acting for the owner in regard to a proposed sale of the lands have been informed by the Land Commission that they have no objection to the present sale, but without prejudice to any action for acquisition they might decide to take in the future under their statutory powers.